Statement of the Political council of the United Civil Party

On October, 16 in Minsk, action of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners was dispersed brutally by the police. 22 oppositionists were detained, including co-chairman of the United Democratic Forces Anatoly Lebedko, chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Nikolai Statkevich, leader of the Young Democrats Mikhail Pashkevich, deputy chairman of the organization "Young Front" Anastasia Palazhanka and others. The policemen used of force, many participants of the action were beaten. In particular, Anatoly Lebedko, the chairman of the United Civil Party was beaten to blood. In Central District Police Department the policemen continued to beat the participants of solidarity action.

The United Civil Party emphasizes the international community and human rights organizations on the illegal actions of the police, use of physical force against peaceful demonstrators, blocking of journalists’ work, violation of the decision of the Supreme Court that the current format of the action does not require permission from the authorities.

United Civil Party considers Nikolay Avtukhovich, Vladimir Osipenko, Artem Dubsky and Andrei Bondarenko as political prisoners of Belarus, and will seek recognition of their status at the international level.

United Civil Party will inform the citizens of Belarus about the most odious representatives of power structures, who participated in disperse of peaceful actions.